There is a little bit of Rajasthan in me....

There's a little bit of Rajasthan in me
Its in my veins, Its in my fate
The beautiful music it creates
with my soul it resonates

Rajasthan conjures up fond childhood memories for me. We went there every summer vacation to visit my grandma and extended family. It might not be the best time to visit in the summer heat, but it never stopped us from having fun.
I can still close my eyes and go back in time to feel the warm and silky desert sand run through my fingers. Or taste the different textures of "Ker-Sangri". Or try to lick up the ice cream candy before it melted in the heat.....and compare my brightly colored tongue to my cousins's. Or try to resist taking a forced upon afternoon nap, but never knowing when I was lulled to sleep with the sound of the desert cooler.
My favorite part was when we'd sleep on the terrace on charpoys under the clear night sky, and feel enormously tiny in the enormous scheme of the universe. Nature's "shock and awe" campaign! :-)

Pune is where home is, but Rajasthan is probably where I go in my dreams.....

 

An Ode to my daughter

I'm overwhelmed, overcome with love
sometimes stupefied, petrified
of the responsibility involved
of raising you, my princess.
well, i stand rectified......
it is I that is being raised!
in this magical process.

What do I have to give you
except for everything thats mine.
It is from you that I receive
the opportunity of growth every time.

You are growing up faster
than what my senses can perceive,
it is beyond my discernment or imagination.
Soon some day, your own person you will be.......

A Life full of moments....

As I ponder on my life so far,
I wonder- how did it all go by?
Did I live it enough to justify?
Or was I a mere passer by?

I think I simply let it be
and just allowed it to unfold.
It was the simple but precious moments
that had profound impact in it behold.

It was there in the silence that follows a soulful song....
The sigh of relief after fixing whats gone wrong....
In the peace that prevails after a good cry.....
In the first sip of my morning chai.....

It was there in the pause that punctuates a loving conversation....
In that feeling when I'm tired from a job thats well done....
It was there in the moment I chose to remain silent
instead of carrying on with the meaningless argument.

It was there the moment everything fell into place
after I chose to walk away from the rat race.
It was there all the time, right under my nose.
It was me that was far away, inspite of being so close.
------------------------------------------------------
On the other hand.....

So when did I lose my moments of life?
Was it in my pursuit of perfection?
Or was it in my relentless chase
for a word of unprecedented praise?

It must have been my quest
of some aceptance and respect.
It was my urge to defend my position
or the need to prove my pleasing disposition.

It could have been when I made a choice
of a position of combat, instead of one of poise.
It must have been when I allowed
the pain of my past to linger on...

I let my beliefs get the better of me
when an open mind was the necessity.
I allowed myself to be digressed
when all the issue needed was to be addressed

It is at these moments that I lost it the most
The window of opportunity for personal growth.

Confessions of an Egoic mind

It's so ALL about me.....

We may have been created equal,
but it is you that needs to be silent.
Else I'll cut you to size, with words
that are nothing short of violent.

I'm the one that calls the shots
whether you choose to like it or not.
You can cry, shout, or fight it out.
I have this game all figured out.

On the other hand, I can articulate.
I can discuss, argue and push my case.
No fact is that hard to manipulate.
No fact is a lie if it saves my face.

I have a need to prove that I am far superior
in riches, intellect, spirituality, or behaviour.
Isnt this something we all indulge in?
'Coz in the end, the Ego always needs to win!

So beware everybody, dont you see?
It is so all about, who else........, me!!!!!

Thank you Gulmohar Days

Thank you Gulmohar Days for featuring my poem on your site....

http://gulmohar-days.blogspot.com/2009/09/allow-me.html

Let go....

It doesnt matter
whether you whisper or shout,
I may be physically here
but I'm all spaced out.

I'm out there somewhere
building my riches,
but the shores of reality and dreams
are full of broken bridges.

This is not what life
promised and illustrated,
that is why I feel
let down and frustrated.

The inner world is where
blissful glimpses are revealed,
all I have to do is let go
of this world of make-believe.......

Just let me be.....

I will evolve,
but at my own pace.
Dont try to hasten me
I have footsteps to trace.

Allow me to linger
a little while longer
until my determination is firm
and my faith a little stronger.

Allow me to stay
blissfully unaware
that my hurdles are all inside
and not somewhere out there!
 

The journey within

I have miles to go
before I reach home.
I tread cautiously, carving footsteps
as I walk alone.

Sometimes its a trudge
as I go downhill.
A trudge as I
walk uphill, still.

Trying to negotiate my path
is the trickiest part,
I am halfway through my journey
or is it just the start?

Should I stick to the scripted route?
Will my path itself find me out?
Or should I let destiny deal
and allow my inner truth to reveal.....

My wish list

I wish for.......
-- A dslr camera. I've been saving up for one and it has replaced my wish for a diamond bracelet. Dont know about diamonds, but photographs are forever.

-- The ability to have chocolates whenever, wherever, howmuchever. Without worrying about calories, costs or social etiquette (sometimes you just gotta lick your fingers)

-- Being able to connect with anybody, anytime. Sure, technology has made it possible, but our egoes have not.

-- And last, but not the least - world peace ..............no, really.

The year of the famine......

The birds soar high

in the cloud dotted sky

a gust of wind comes by

and blows the clouds dry

The Earth stays parched

The farmers have arched

backwards in despair

this is their worst nightmare

The worst is yet to come

It can't be undone

Its going to be a long year

What we need now is prayer

Finally, just when hope was lost......

Heaven took notice of a little boy

who sat deep in meditation

he was free from all temptation

it is his prayer that brought redemption

It showered like never before that year

beautiful droplets falling, bringing cheer

for everyone else the year was finally over

For the little boy, he was free forever

The Kashmiri have it good - Houseboats, Pashmina, Saffron, and.......Kahwa!

I'd been introduced to Kahwa (Kashmiri Green Tea) a few years ago by a Kashmiri friend in the U.S. I've hunted high and low for this exotic tea in India ever since. The other day I find it, oh so casually, at The Bombay Store. Since then no weekend has gone by without its consumption.

It not only tastes really smooth, but also has a medicinal value. Its a great drink to have when you have a sore throat or a cold and is said to aid digestion. Works like magic everytime. It is made traditionally in a Kashmiri Samovar kettle, a large decorated urn with burning coals underneath. A pan on a cooking range works just as well!

A teaspoon of this potent tea yields around 4 cups worth of brew.

Procedure:

~Boil 4 cups of water, add sugar per taste, and a pinch of each - cinnamon powder and cardamom (i personally like less of cinnamon and more of cardamon).

~Add a teaspoon of Kahwa leaves and let the mixture brew on lower flame for an additional 10 minutes.

~Strain the drink and then garnish it with almonds slivers. (As a variation, you could also add a strand or two of Saffron, and garnish with Pistachios).

~Serve piping hot and enjoy!!!

A nice variation to the usual tea/coffee social offering, dont you think?!!

I have a ceramic fixation...

Everytime I go anywhere, I seek another item made of ceramic to add to my burgeoning collection (hubby just doesnt get it! It occupies too much space.....It costs too much....Why do we need it?....You dont even use the ones you already have....blah....blah....).

It is not the fine china that i seek. Give me the most colorful/almost kitschy/the cheaper the better/the one with the unusual shape - kind to add to my collection.

If you can mix and match them, their value goes even higher for me! If they come with a lid, thats exceptional value!!

Most of my prized possesions come from the local bazaars. For Pune, this would mean Tulsibaug and the likes.

Check out these priceless masterpieces....

Who let the pigs out?

Last few days have been spent marooned at home owing to the swine flu threat. This gave me an opportunity to indulge in a few things that I wouldnt have otherwise....

- Taught the kids how to play chess. Dint know what I was getting into.... now my son wants me to play chess with him all the time. Taught him to play it with himself as his own opponent. And guess what....... now he wins everytime!!

- Actually took the books out of the shelf and curled up with them.

- Baked a cake or two.

- Broke a glass or two.

- Spent an entire day in pajamas, with oil in my hair!! Even dared to open the main door in this attire. Felt very liberated after that!! (yes, this is what it has come to)

- Started with spring/divali cleaning

- Watched some really old movies, including Khoon Bhari Maang. Hadnt realized what a cheesy movie this one was the first time around in the eighties. I actually thought Rekha looked better before her transformation!

My vegetables have been growing rapidly.
Here's the Methi (fenugreek). Dont know if that clover leaf is a weed or not.


The Karela (bitter gourd) has been growing too fast for its own good...

Tomatoes and Eggplant. Will deserve a bigger container once they've proved their growth oriented ability.....(gosh, my corporate world experiences just came gushing out!!)

Monsoon is here, or is it?

गीली नहीं ज़मीन
पीली पड़ गयी अर्जी
बारिश की तो इस बार
ढीली पड़ गयी मर्जी
(The Earth aint wet
the requests have turned yellow (as in old paper eventually turning yellow)
the rains have, this time
lost their will to shower)

The elusive Monsoon has played truant this year. It started on a promising note, only to dry up, to show a late start, only to dry up again. Here are a few pictures I managed to click when it did rain like it usually does this time of the year......




My garden, a continuous work in progress.... The plants just love this season. They seem so much happier, in a state of celebration.

It has been one looooong break....

Well, I did a lot of things these last few months..... everything except for blogging. One of the highlights during this sabbatical was our Goa trip. Gorgeous beaches, wonderful Goan architecture, loads of greenery and tropical flavors. Check out some of these pics from my trip.....

Our trip started with some pakodas and chai on Amboli ghat. One of the best eating experience I've encountered on my travels. Beautiful scenery with the valley and hills all around, and lots of monkeys vying for food thrown their way by eager passersby.
And the most delicious pakodas I've ever had. All for Rs.5.00 per plate!!!!

Goa is dotted with beautiful churches....

Goan architecture is something else. A blend of European and South American flavors. Well, the Portugese left behind some beautiful influences. I saw some bold use of bright colors like canary green, sunset yellow, peacock blue, etc. Here's one interesting building with a beautiful shade of blue...

Pan anyone? This pan-wala had the most colorful assortment of condiments. Very attractive looking, even for the local flies!!

Flowerlady outside the Mangeshi Temple...

And ofcourse, the beaches!!!!!..........who needs footwear in Goa?!!
Sigh! I'm the designated caretaker :-(

Oh yes, a Kingfisher bottle cap, IS a part of nature in Goa ;-)
So long Goa.... gonna leave my beach slippers behind until next time...